4. Subject to Regulation 5 below, every measure of length shall be made of—E+W+S
(a)carbon steel, including matt chrome-plated carbon steel, steel protected by a clear film or rust-resisting steel;
(b)brass;
(c)aluminium alloy, including anodised and stained aluminium alloy;
(d)glass-reinforced or opaque plastics;
(e)wood; or
(f)any other material of adequate stability.
Commencement Information
I1Reg. 4 in force at 27.10.1986, see reg. 1(1)
5. Every measure of length shall be sufficiently strong and resistant to abrasion to withstand the wear and tear of ordinary use in trade.E+W+S
Commencement Information
I2Reg. 5 in force at 27.10.1986, see reg. 1(1)
6. Where an end measure or composite measure is made of wood or other material of durability equal to or less than that of wood, the terminal surfaces shall have metal tips which shall be securely fixed to the wood or other material.E+W+S
Commencement Information
I3Reg. 6 in force at 27.10.1986, see reg. 1(1)
7. The terminal surfaces of end measures and of composite measures shall be flat and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the measure.E+W+S
Commencement Information
I4Reg. 7 in force at 27.10.1986, see reg. 1(1)
8. Every rigid measure of length, including folding measures, shall be practically straight and free from flaws.E+W+S
Commencement Information
I5Reg. 8 in force at 27.10.1986, see reg. 1(1)
9. Every flexible measure of length shall be constructed so that when it is stretched out on a flat surface its edges are practically straight and parallel.E+W+S
Commencement Information
I6Reg. 9 in force at 27.10.1986, see reg. 1(1)
10. Winding devices for flexible measures of length shall be constructed so that they do not cause any permanent deformation of the measure.E+W+S
Commencement Information
I7Reg. 10 in force at 27.10.1986, see reg. 1(1)
11. Where a measure of length is marked with a reference temperature, it shall be constructed so that a change of not more than 8 degrees Celsius above or below that temperature does not cause in normal use a variation in length exceeding the prescribed limit of error.E+W+S
Commencement Information
I8Reg. 11 in force at 27.10.1986, see reg. 1(1)
12. Where a measure of length is marked with a tractive force, it shall be constructed so that a change of 10 per cent. above or below that force does not cause a variation in length exceeding the prescribed limit of error.E+W+S
Commencement Information
I9Reg. 12 in force at 27.10.1986, see reg. 1(1)
13.—(1) Every measure of length which is graduated shall be graduated clearly, indelibly and, subject to paragraph (2) below, regularly, so as to enable unambiguous readings to be made easily.E+W+S
(2) Certain sections of a graduated measure of length may be subdivided more finely than other sections.
Commencement Information
I10Reg. 13 in force at 27.10.1986, see reg. 1(1)
14. Where the scale marks on a measure of length are lines these shall be straight, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the measure of length and all of the same thickness, constant throughout their length.E+W+S
Commencement Information
I11Reg. 14 in force at 27.10.1986, see reg. 1(1)
15. The numbering of graduated measures of length shall be—E+W+S
(a)(i)continuous; or
(ii)partly continuous and partly repetitive; and
(b)(i)parallel to the longitudinal axis of the measure of length; or
(ii)perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the measure of length, depending on how the measure is designed to be read.
Commencement Information
I12Reg. 15 in force at 27.10.1986, see reg. 1(1)
16. Where a graduated measure of length is a folding measure, some of its numbering in close proximity to the joints may be omitted.E+W+S
Commencement Information
I13Reg. 16 in force at 27.10.1986, see reg. 1(1)
17. Every measure of length shall be conspicuously, legibly and durably marked (in the case of a flexible measure, near the beginning of the measure) with the following items—E+W+S
(a)on each graduated side, its nominal length expressed in one only of the following units of measurement in full or by means of one of the following abbreviations or symbols only:—
| metre | m |
| centimetre | cm |
| millimetre | mm |
| yard | yd |
| foot | ft |
| inch | in; |
(b)the name or trade mark of the manufacturer of the measure; and
(c)its tractive force, if it is a flexible measure with a nominal length exceeding five metres in metric units or ten feet in imperial units.
Commencement Information
I14Reg. 17 in force at 27.10.1986, see reg. 1(1)
18. Every measure of length which is not graduated or subdivided shall be marked conspicuously, legibly and durably with the words “not graduated” or “not subdivided”.E+W+S
Commencement Information
I15Reg. 18 in force at 27.10.1986, see reg. 1(1)
19.—(1) Every measure of length may be marked (in the case of a flexible measure, near the beginning of the measure) with one or more of the following items—E+W+S
(a)the reference temperature;
(b)where not required to be marked under Regulation 17 above, the tractive force;
(c)the number of the British Standard published by the British Standards Institution that specifies requirements for the measure or other specification reference;
(d)a model designation;
(e)the country of manufacture; and
(f)the material from which the measure has been made.
(2) Nothing in paragraph (1) above shall prohibit other markings on a measure of length, which do not cause confusion in use.
Commencement Information
I16Reg. 19 in force at 27.10.1986, see reg. 1(1)